Mechanical musical-instrument player.



No. 810,057. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

L. U.'IJOBES. MECHANICAL MUSIC-AL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYG, 1903- 4 SHEETS-SHEET -1'.

will W" In W/TNES ES: INVENTOR.

No. 810,057. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906, L. U. JOBES. MEGHANIGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1903.

4 SHEETS-$333! 2.

IN VEN TOR.

PATENTED JAN. 1a, 1906.

L. n. JOBES. MEQHANIGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1903.

4 SHEETS-$112115? 3 PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

- U. JOBES. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

T o m UNITED STATES LAWRENCE U. JOBES, OF CINCINNATI. QHi-O. ASSIGNOR TO THE BALDVVIN.

PATENT @FFH) i1 COIVIPANY, 0F HAMILTON, OHIO.

MECHANICAL MUSECAL-ENSTRUMENT PLAYER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed July 6, 1903. Serial No- 164,390.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCEYU. JOBES, a citizen of the United States, residing at lin- 'cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State .thereof consists of a series of primary, intermediate, and. striking pneumatics combined with an exhaust-bellows and-operated by a perforated note-sheet, commonly called a "music-sheet.

The object of my invention is to improve 1 .upon the construction of the class of musical- --boX 5.

instrument players above referred toand to provide a mechanism simplein construction, sensitive in operation, having a greater accessibility for adjustment and repair, and, greater capacity for musical expression,- and my invention consists of certain novel fea tures ofconstruction and combination of parts, as' will be herein fully described. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a' front View of a mechanical musical-instrument layer, in this instance a piano-player, embo' ying my improvements. It shows the case removed to expose the parts which would be concealed thereby. Fig. 2 is a section, through the instrument shown in Fig. 1, taken at a point indicated by the lines X X in 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, same figure. Fig. '3 shows the primary and intermediate pneumatics, together with the striking-pneumatics, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a view of the wind-chest, showing the arrangement of the air-passages.

In the description and drawings corresponding numerals. indicate corresponding parts. 1

1 is the tracker-range over which the music-sheet passes from the roll 2 to the r0113.

4 represents the pipes connecting the tracker-range with the primary-pneumatic 6 shows the striking-pneumatics framed together in four staggered rows, to the rear of which is placed the intermediate-pneumatic box 7. 4

The key-levers 8 and.8 are attached to the levererail 9. by means of the flanges 10. The key-levers 8 and 8 consist of a straight portion extendingfrom the flange 10 to the striking-point 38. The front portion of the levers 8 extend from the flange 10 to the lifter-rod 11 and are curved with a downward sweep, while the levers 8, placed on each side of the tracker-range, are curved with an upward sweep, thus making room on each side of the tracker-range for the pipes 4., which are carried through the openings thus formed to the treble and bass sections of the instrument. The key-levers are connected with the pneumatics 6 by the lifter-rod 11' and wood. extensions 12. The liftenrods 11 are metal, threaded at each end and provided with leather nuts for the purposeol regulat ing. the stroke of the striking-levers 8 and8.

The striking-pneuinatics 6, primary box 5,

and intermediate box 7 are framed together in such a manner that the primary box is placed directly over the striking-pneuniatics and connects with the intermediate box in its position behind the striking-pncuinatics.

The whole rests on the wind-chest 13, which is connected with the bellows 14, which works on the exhaust or suction plan.

The wind-chest-13 consists ofa box having top and bottom boards glued to a rim 46, the

same beingprovided with airchannels and vents for the passage of air from the system of pneumatics to the exhaust-bellows. valve-holes 47 connect the wind-chest with the exhaust-bellows 15. The vents 48 and 49 at the rear of the wind-chest open from the under side of the same into the equalizing-bellows 14, which maintains and equalizes the partial vacuum of the entire pneumatic system. The vents 51 and 52 in the upper surface of the wind-chest lead into a pneumatic expression-box 56, fully described 1n a subsequent application. Said expressionbox'ls placed on the upper surface of the .wind-ch'est to the rear of the intermediate valve-box. The air passingthrough the in termcdiate box under suction enters the channel 54- of the wind-chest through the vents 50, said channel being so niratcd from the main portion-oi" the wind-chest by the walls 53.. The air then enters the expressionboX through the vent 51, where by proper means under the control of the operator the degree of vacuum pressuro is modified to the end that the force or the striking-pneumatics is regulated accordingto the requirements of the music. The air is, then returned to the The main portion of the w'ii'id-chest through vent 52 and through the valve-holes 47 into the exhaust-bellows 15.

The bellows and windchest system is in dil rect connection with the pneumatic-chamber 17 in the intermediate box, and the pneu-' matic-chamber 18 in the primary box, and the air-channels and 20, connecting the intermediate box with the primary box. he striking-pixelnnatics 6 the air-channels 21 connecting them with the intermediate box are acted upon by both the bellowsexhaust and the outside air.

' equalizes the degree of vacuum between the pneumatic-chamber 18 and the air-channel .23, is provided with a channel 33, which runs to the front of the primary box and is covered by a vent-strip 45:

The intermediate box 7 contains two series of valve-chambers 26, one placed above the other. The valves of each'series control a double series of striking pneumatics 6, since there are four series of striking-pneumatics operated by two series of valves, as shown in Fig. 3. tains two pneumatic-chambers 17, connected with the wind-chest 13 by the channels 27, also two vent-chambers 19, open to the outside air. In the pneumatic-chamber 17 is placed a pneumatic 28, directly under each pup et-valve 29, which controls the action of t io same, the pneumatic 28 being under the influence of the exhaust inthe primary air-chamber 18 through the channel 20, leading to the same.

The striking-pneumatics are arranged infour rows under the primary box 5. The pneumatics-of each row are attached to a shelf 3-6, which is secured by screws to the in termediate box 7, the screws for this purpose being reached from the front through holes leading to them through the shelf. It will be seen that by this improvement-the striking-pneumatics become accessible for repairs by removing the screws, which hold the shelves in position.

Under normal conditions there is a partial vacuum in the wixid-chest 13 and exhaustchambers 17 and 18, also in the channel to the tracker-range 1,-when the hole 31 in the tracker-range is covered with; an uriperforated portion of the music-sheet, said'partial vacuum being maintained by the small vent 30. When a perforation of the music-sheet registers with an opening in the trackerrange and admits air thereto, the partial vacuum therein is destroyed. The pneu- The intermediate box'7 also con-- struction rendered more rigid by gluing the matic .22 is raised, causing the valve24, which rests thereon, to close the connection between the duct 20 and the chamber 18 and open the same to the outer air through the ports 25.

This destroys the partial vacuum in theduct' 20 and causes the pneumatic 28 to raise the puppet-valve 29, thus closing the valvechamber 26 to the outer air. This causes the striking-pixeuinatics 6 to collapse by estab lishing a connection between them and the the pneumatic-chamber 17 through the chan- 1101.21. This action of the striking-pneumatic causes an upward movement ofthe lifter-rod 11 and causes the key-levers 8 tostrike the Keys of the, piano.

The advantages of my improvement. will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The primary valve-box, interined iate valvebox and striking-pneumatics are framed together in the most compact manner. All parts are easily accessible for regulation or repair as soon as the upper portion of the case is removed.

By placing the strikingpneumaties as shown. I am enabled to use a greater leverage in the key-levers, and thus secure greater power. Also by the-use of longer lifter-rods greater elasticity inthe touch'of the instrument is attained. Y

The wind-chest 13 as ordinarily constructed is made in two halves, held together by screws. My experience with this form of construction shows there is apt to be a leal age of air and sliding 01 parts. This is obviated in my in'ip'roved' wind-chest and the con 7 the various parts together, as the arrangement of the air-channel and the various vents is such that it never becomes'necessary to open the wind-chest or any purpose whatever.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent/is- 1. In a mechanical musical instrument player the'key-levers 8 having a straight por-- tion extending from the' flange 10 to the striking-point38, and a curved portion extending with a downward sweep from the flange 10 to the point of contact with the lifter-rods 11, substantially as described.

2. In-amechanical musical-instrument v player the key-levers 8 having a straight portion extending from theflange 10,-to the striking-point 38 and a curved portion ex tending with an upward sweep from -the flange 10 .to the point of contact with the lifter-rods 11, substantially as described.

3; In a -ineclnnlical musical-instrumentl player, the combination of the key-levers 8 havin a strai ht )OIt-LOH extend1n from the D l) 2D flange '10 to the striking-point 38 and a' curved portion extending with a downward sweep from the flange 10 to the point of contact with the lifter-rods 11 with the key-levers 8 having a straight portion extending from the fl angelO to the striking-point 38 Whole being under the action of the exhaust by means of the channels leading from the intermediate valve-box to the primary valvebox,

termediate valve-box to the striking-pneumatic, substantially as described.

valve-box,

5.; In a mechanical musical-instrument layer the combination of the primary valveox 5, the intermediate valve-box 7 placed below-andat the rear of the primary valve-' box the strikingneumatics 6 placed directly underthe primary valve-box and infront of-the intermediate va1ve b0x, and the attachable and detachable valve-shelf 36, se-

cured to the front wall of the intermediate said valve-shelf having the striking-pneumatics attached to the same, the

'prnnary valve-box, the intermediate valve ox and the strikingneumatics being under the actionvof the ex aust, by means of the channels 20 leading from the intermediate valvetbox, and the passages 21 leading from the intermediate valve-box to the strikingpneirmatios, substantially as described.

and the passages 21 leading from the in- :6. In a me c'hanica lmusicalinstrument player, the combination of a wind-chest, with an expression-box and an equalizing-bellows connected therewith? said wind-chest con-.

sistin of a box in which the top and bottom boar 5 thereof are attached continuously "to a rim; said wind-chest having an air-channel within the same selpl aratedby walls from the main air-space oft e chest, and vents adapted to lead from said channel to the outside of said wind-chest, also vents connecting said channel and said main air-space with said expres'sion-box andpassagesleading from said main air -spaceto. said equalizingbellows,

siibstantially as described.

player the] combination of a wind 'chest 13 consisting of a box in tomboards thereof are attached continuously to a rim 46, and having a channel .54 within the same-separated by walls- :from the main air-space of said chest; with an inter- -mediate ,v'alveeboxficonnected with the channel 54 by y the vents pm ex ressionbox 56 connected with said channe b 14' connected with said main air-space valve-holes 47, subs'tantially'as escribed. LAWRENCE U JOBES.

v Witnesses:

Geo. W. 'ARMs'rnonG, JrI, J. W. MACY.

the. vent 51 and with the main air-space 0 said chest by thevent 52; an equalizing-bellows by the vents 48'and 49 3 and the exhaustbellows'1 5. ,seonnected with said main air-s ace by the 7..In a mechan cal musical-instrument which the top and. bot- 55 1 

